This is an archive article published on April 23, 2022
RSS leader accused of killing CPI(M) worker held from near CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s house in Kannur
The police said the house, where the RSS worker took shelter, allegedly belongs to a CPI(M) sympathiser who lives abroad.
Written by Shaju Philip
Thiruvananthapuram | April 23, 2022 01:42 PM IST
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The CPI (M) worker has been identified as Korambil Haridas. (File Photo)
A local RSS leader, who was wanted in connection with the alleged murder of a CPI (M) worker, was arrested from a hide-out near Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s home village Pinarayi in Kannur on Friday.
Parakkandi Nijildas, 38, an alleged accused in the murder of a CPI (M) worker in Kannur early this year, was held from a house near the Chief Minister’s residence. The police said the house, where the RSS worker took shelter, allegedly belongs to a CPI (M) sympathiser identified as Prasanth, who lives abroad. Prasanth’s wife, P M Reshma, a school teacher, was arrested on charges of harbouring Nijildas at her house, which has been vacant, they added.
Both were sent to judicial custody for 14 days. Hours after Nijildas was arrested by the local police, unidentified persons hurled crude bombs at the house, where he had allegedly stayed for the last week. The police said Nijildas is one of the accused in connection with the murder of CPI(M) functionary Punnol Haridas, who was hacked to death allegedly by Sangh Parivar workers on February 14 this year. He had been absconding since then.
After finding out that Nijildas was in touch with his family using a mobile phone, the police tracked him down at Pinarayi village, meters away from the Chief Minister’s residence which is always under high security cover.
The cops said that the arrested RSS worker had been staying there since April 17. Reshma, a teacher at Amrita Vidyalayam, is a friend of Nijildas and she allegedly supplied food and provisions to him.
CPI (M) Pinarayi branch secretary Kakkoth Rajan said that nobody would dare to lodge a person involved in a murder case at a house in the vicinity of the CM’s residence. “Normally, the RSS would not dare to do that. We don’t know why he chose this area as his hide-out,” he added.
However, CPI (M) Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan told reporters on Saturday that the party has no links with Prasanth, whose house was used by the RSS worker. “He (Prasanth) had adopted the stand followed by the RSS on many issues and had actively taken part in agitations organised by them against Covid-restrictions last year. Such a person cannot be called a CPI (M) sympathiser,” he added.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
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